“Yeah, obviously going and playing the Irish Open, it’s always one of the weeks at the start of the year where I look and I want to perform that week. Going to Royal County Down, I haven’t played there since we were there in 2015 or so, around then. So yeah, going back there is going to be cool.
“It’s obviously one of the great golf courses in the world, one of the great venues. I just hope we get some good weather. If we get some good weather it’ll be an amazing week, and, yeah, hopefully I can do well.”
Pádraig Harrington
Pádraig Harrington kicked off a glorious twelve months with victory at the 2007 Irish Open in Adare Manor, becoming the first home winner for 25 years.
The now 53-year-old went on to win his first Open Championship that July before successfully defending his title in 2008 and winning the PGA Championship in the same year.
Tom McKibbin
Set to make his third appearance in the Irish Open, Tom McKibbin needs a big week to revive his PGA Tour card chances.
The 21-year-old has slipped to 17th in the Race to Dubai, two places below the top-10 not already exempt for a PGA Tour card next season.
McKibbin has enjoyed a very consistent season with eight top-10 finishes but has missed two of his last five cuts on the DP World Tour.
McKibbin made the cut at the K Club last year.
Seamus Power
A persistent hip injury curtailed Seamus Power’s season last year so having missed the 2023 edition he makes his first Irish Open appearance since 2022.
The Waterford man made the FedEx Cup playoffs last month thus keeping his full playing privileges but was unable to progress into the top-70 meaning he will be outside the PGA Tour Signature Events next year.
Mark Power
Mark Power will take part in his fifth Amgen Irish Open after he finished as the leading Irish player at the Irish Challenge. It is also a return to the tournament which began his professional career twelve months ago where he earned over €40,000 at the K Club.
“My very first pro event at the K Club, a Rolex event, picked up a nice paycheque and thought ‘wow this is brilliant,’ laughs Power. “And soon realised how tough it is and how good the standard is out here on the Challenge Tour.
“My first event was on the main tour but there is very little difference, the standard is very good but it’s good to see if you keep practicing hard and it’s been a good start, learning lots.”
Conor Purcell
A winner on the Challenge Tour this season, Conor Purcell made the cut on his Irish Open debut last year and is one of the Sport Ireland invitations to the event this week.
“The longer you are out here and the more events you play the more you realise everyone is the same and playing the same game it only gets bigger the more you big it up in your head so just go out there and play,” said the Portmarnock man.
Gary Hurley
Gary Hurley makes his first Irish Open appearance since 2017.
Simon Thornton
Simon Thornton will dine at the top table again at this week’s Irish Open and it will mean even more to him as he now lives in Newcastle a mere stone’s throw away from Royal County Down.
A winner at the PGA Playoffs earlier this year, Thornton was faced with a dilemma: play the PGA Cup this week or return to Royal County Down for the first time since 2015 and a first Irish Open bow since 2021.
“Deep down, I knew that I couldn’t give up the opportunity to play in the Irish Open at my home course,” said Thornton who was an assistant pro at RCD.
Max Kennedy (a)
Max Kennedy of Royal Dublin was the highest Irish golfer in the World Amateur Golf Rankings (30) and will make his Irish Open debut having picked up one of the two Irish amateur invitations.
Seán Keeling (a)
Seán Keeling secured his place thanks to accumulated world ranking points from the St Andrews Links Trophy, The Amateur Championship, European Individual Championship and AIG Irish Men’s Amateur Close.
In competition with Hugh Foley and Matthew McClean, the Roganstown teenager (17) pipped Foley to the post by 0.2 WAGR points.
